238 picid.e. 



tree which holds him. This favorite call of the Woodpeckers 

 is very remarkable ; and if it were more generally known, 

 there would be more specimens obtained by sportsmen who 

 seek for them. 



When the present species perceives that danger approaches, 

 he turns to the opposite side of the stem, or runs up the 

 tree to the very top, from which he flies to the top of some 

 other tree ; but when only in search of food, his flight is 

 invariably directed to the foot of the neighbouring tree, which 

 he ascends in like manner in search of food. 



The food of this bird consists of insects, and their eggs, 

 larvae, and crysalides, also nuts and seeds ; but he does not 

 take ants or their eggs, like the foregoing species. When 

 employed in pecking at the bark of some branch, he may 

 frequently be seen to run round in great haste, which he 

 does for the purpose of catching the insects that try to es- 

 cape in the manner that worms crawl out of the earth when 

 a mole moves that element ; he also destroys many cater- 

 pillars, and hidden eggs among the bark. The seed of the 

 pine supplies him chiefly during the winter season. 



We have obtained a brood of the Spotted Woodpecker 

 in Surrey ; it was taken from a hole in an oak, on the common 

 behind Claremont ; the tree was situated close to a cottage, 

 and near the main road to Letherhead. There were four 

 young birds quite fledged, and the old male : they subsisted 

 some days on raw meat chopped fine, and bread and milk ; 

 but their smell would alone have been enough to induce us 

 to part with them after making our observations on them, 

 even if they would have shown more good will in feeding, 

 and less disposition to batter their cage to pieces. 



About March and April the birds in question become very 

 clamorous, and begin to look out for a breeding-place, giving 

 the preference generally to pine-trees ; and if they do not 

 find a cavity ready for their purpose, they make one for 



